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Tigers create history with Andrew Johns Cup win

nswrlmedia — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 06:37:54 +0000

Tigers create history with Andrew Johns Cup win

Author : NSWRL

Tigers create history with Andrew Johns Cup win

Macarthur Wests Tigers coach Adam Whitelaw had challenged his players this season to create history and become the first team from the region to claim the Andrew Johns Cup,

They answered the call in style today after beating Newcastle Maitland Region Knights 26-16 in the Grand Final at Port Macquarie Regional Sports Stadium.

The Tigers recovered from a shaky start, after the Knights scored a try in the opening minute, to score four unanswered tries and take control of the decider.

It was the region’s first title and made up for the disappointment of their last appearance in 2024 when they lost to Central Coast Roosters, with back-rower Bryce Blatch a deserved Player of the Match.

“This is big,” Whitelaw said.

“Our mantra at the start of the year was create history. No team in Macarthur has won the comp and we’ve done it today so our name’s in the history books forever.

“All the hard work these kids have put in. We knew we had something special from the start and we delivered today. I’m so proud of these kids.”

Adding to the occasion today was the fact the Knights, from the Northern Pool, and the Tigers, from the Southern Pool, had gone through the regular season unbeaten and were meeting for the first time at Port Macquarie.

The Knights got off to a flying start when a kick from five-eighth Koby Skuthorpe was allowed to bounce by the Tigers.

Newcastle winger Izaac Barber batted the ball up before regathering and passing back infield to centre Noah Blundell, who in turn found Skuthorpe in support to race away and score in the opening minute.

Fullback Harlem Blair converted for a 6-0 lead.

The match then turned into a genuine arm wrestle as both teams looked for the ascendency, but defence was winning the day.

The Knights came close again through winger Terrence Smith but the last pass went to ground.

Another chance late in the first half to Knights winger Barber also came up short after the defence arrived in time to bundle him into touch.

“We knew they were going to come, we knew they were a tough opposition,” Whitelaw said.

“They’ve been the benchmark all year and pretty much what we’ve done on the other side of the draw. They didn’t give up either and kept coming. Great effort by them and hats off to Newcastle and their staff.”

The Tigers finally found their groove and came close to scoring on the back of a bullocking run from Blatch only to be denied by some determined goal-line defence.

The Tigers received another opportunity after the Knights failed to clean up a kick from halfback Masen Mallia and they were quick to capitalise.

Centre Zedric Vaiau did well to pop a pass after a strong charge, and replacement Adam El Masri did even better to catch the pass behind him before releasing winger Lucas Bentham down the sideline to score.

Mallia landed the sideline conversion to lock the scores up at 6-all.

The Tigers received another opportunity after Knights fullback Harlem Blair spilled a bomb and they soon turned that into points after El Masri burrowed his way over from dummy-half to score next to the posts.

Mallia converted to send his team into the half-time break with a 12-6 lead.

The Tigers went further in front when play resumed after Blatch proved too strong for the goal line defence and scored a well-deserved try.

Mallia converted and then added a penalty goal a short time later to give the Tigers a handy 20-6 lead.

Any hopes the Knights had of a fightback faded further after a powerful charge from prop Alex Mau paved the way for replacement Hamish Butler to crash over the line on the next play.

Mallia continued his flawless display with the boot to extend the lead to 26-6.

The Knights never gave up and scored two tries at the end – including a spectacular chip and chase from Barber down the touchline – but the damage had been done either side of half-time by the Tigers as they celebrated a 26-16 win.

Full Time

Macarthur Wests Tigers 26

TRIES : Lucas Bentham, Adam El Masri, Bryce Blatch, Hamish Butler
GOALS : Masen Mallia 4

Newcastle Maitland Region Knights 16

TRIES : Koby Skuthorpe, Tyrese Vaipulu, Izaac Barber
GOALS : Harlem Blair 2

CC Roosters claim first Andrew Johns Cup

nswrlmedia — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 08:12:38 +0000

CC Roosters claim first Andrew Johns Cup

Author : Margie McDonald NSWRL Media

Smith shines as CC Roosters claim first Andrew Johns Cup

Tayte Bayley had a blinder kicking 3 goals in the 2023 Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final (Photo : Bryden Sharp / NSWRL)

Second rower Darcy Smith scored the winning try and scooped up Player of the Match as the Central Coast Roosters held a gallant Newcastle-Maitland Region Knights at bay 18-10 in Saturday’s SLE Andrew Johns Cup Grand Final.

Smith and his back-row partners Kaleb Burke and Riley Ilham kept momentum going the whole match with decisive edge and middle runs.

But with the Knights closing to within two points (12-10) with six minutes to play, it was Smith (pictured below) who made one of his typical breakthrough dashes on the left edge to seal the result.

“Darcy has been big for us for the past two weeks,” said Roosters coach Jack Ellison.

“I’ve had to lean on him but he’s so tough. He runs hard, he hits hard, he’s just a really good player.”

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Fullback Jai Callaghan’s two tries

Fullback Jai Callaghan’s two tries – after scoring a double in last week’s Semi-Final win over Macarthur Wests Tigers – also proved critical for the Roosters.

Knights coach Andrew Jackson said he told his players to keep the faith as they went into the sheds at halftime just 6-0 down.

“It could have been a lot worse – should have been a lot worse – but the boys dug deep.

That fighting spirit brought us back in the second half,” Jackson said.

The Knights were down 12-0 early in the second term but scored two unanswered tries to give themselves a chance.

“I can’t name anyone in particular because the whole 25 players we had in our squad this year have been instrumental – they’ve made a lot of sacrifices week-in, week-out.

“I’m so proud of them for making a Reps Grand Final as hard as it is to lose.”

Roosters found themselves defending their goal line for the opening five minutes.

After surviving that early onslaught they still had the energy to force themselves upfield, which led to their first points.

Callaghan jinked his way through the line to reach out and plant the ball in the seventh minute.

The conversion by Tayte Bayley put the Roosters in the lead early (6-0).

Darcy Smith CC Roosters was the Andrew Johns Cup 2023 Grand Final Man of the Match (Photo : Bryden Sharp / NSWRL)

Play was held up for several minutes midway through the first half, when Knights prop Beau Hill took a head knock and had to be stretchered off.

The Knights continued to pepper the Roosters line but again Central Coast’s defence withstood the test, helped by a few handling errors from Newcastle-Maitland.

The Roosters had a chance to advance the scoreboard close to halftime, when five-eighth Isaac Fotu-Moala stepped off his right foot twice as he was swallowed up by Knights defenders on the line.

But referee Nathan Hillier ruled a knock-on.

In the second half, the Roosters struck early through Callaghan again.

Fotu-Moala put up the perfect corner kick with Callaghan retrieving and then breaking through a tackle to race the final few metres.

The Knights finally got on the scoreboard in the 41st minute when utility hooker Matthew McEwen did a 360-degree swivel at dummy-half close to the line, found some space, and poked through.

Darcy Mitchell converted (12-6) to make it a six-point ball game with 18 minutes left on the clock.

Despite losing McEwen to injury, the Knights kept on with the fightback with Mitchell finishing off a left-side movement in the corner.

He missed the conversion but the margin was reduced to two points (12-10) with six minutes left.

Smith sealed the win with his 58th minute try.

Scores: Central Coast Roosters 18 – 10 Newcastle-Maitland Region 10

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NSWRL Regional Reps Grand Finals

nswrlmedia — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 22:08:14 +0000

NSWRL Regional Reps Grand Finals

Author : NSWRL Media Release

NSWRL Regional Reps Grand Finals at Woy Woy Oval

The NSWRL will host the first of its Grand Final weekends for the 2023 season at Woy Woy Oval on Saturday 25 March.

With the deciders to be held for the Regional Representatives competitions which showcase some of the best Rugby League talent from regional NSW.

The day will kick off with the Grand Final for the SLE Andrew Johns Cup (Under 16s) when Newcastle Maitland Region Knights take on the Central Coast Roosters in an all-northern affair.

The SLE Laurie Daley Cup (Under 18s) will follow and be an all-southern affair with Monaro Colts taking on the Illawarra South Coast Dragons.

The afternoon will conclude with the Riverina Bulls taking on the Newcastle Rebels in the Men’s Country Championships.

Any media interested in covering the matches should email NSWRL Communications Manager Stuart Honeysett on shoneysett@nswrl.com.au or NSWRL Media and Content Coordinator Margie McDonald on margiemcdonald@nswrl.com.au before COB Thursday 23 March.

NSWRL 2023 Regional Representatives Grand Finals schedule